CONTEXT Abigail was concerned at the way the kids had lost their objectivity and been lured by the Survivors within hours of entering the commune. She’d also enjoyed her evening with the charming Elliot. She phoned John first thing Sunday morning and he called the psychologist Miriam Longford for advice. Miriam was arranging a family lunch, but she agreed to speak with Abigail and the kids provided they drove out to her home near the university campus on the opposite side of the city. A red setter greeted them on the driveway. James’ hand got a warm lick as he clambered out of the car. Miriam’s young nieces and nephews chased around and splashed in her pool, as she led Abigail and the three cherubs to a muggy double garage. The cars had been pulled out and she’d set some stackable picnic chairs into a circle. It wasn’t ideal, but it was private and the rest of her home crawled with relatives. Abigail explained what had happened over the previous forty-eight hours, from Lauren lashing out in class and getting sent to the student counsellor, to their visit to the Survivor commune the night before.
